Notable quotes from the federal election campaign trail

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This article was published 28/03/2011 (5624 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Notable quotes from the federal election campaign trail Monday:

“Obviously in the next two, three years … the focus has to be reducing the deficit without raising taxes.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on why his tax-break plan for families won’t kick in for several years.

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“This is a socially conservative move, not a fiscally conservative move.” — Frances Woolley, an economist at Carleton University, suggesting the Tory tax promise would mostly benefit wealthier families with a stay-at-home parent.

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“If you spend billions on fighter jets, on mega-prisons, very quickly by 2014 we’ll reach a point where there’s not enough money to work with the provinces in order to save the universal, accessible health system we have.” — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, on Tory priorities squeezing federal finances.

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“They spent all kinds of money to put us into a deficit before the recession … We found ourselves confronting a record deficit. We feel that the economic management by Mr. Harper is bad.” — Ignatieff, arguing that the Tories botched the federal surplus even before 2008 recession.

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“I call on Mr. Harper to assure Canadians right now that neither of his appointed senators up on fraud charges are campaigning for this election on the public dime.” — NDP Leader Jack Layton, demanding that Tories facing election-violation charges be booted from the election campaign.

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“Come on, come on. We’re a sovereigntist party and I speak about sovereignty in every one of my speeches… People know. There’s no problem. I am happy and proud to be a sovereigntist and we’re going to talk about it throughout the campaign.” — Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, scoffing at reporters’ questions when asked why his campaign slogans don’t mention Quebec independence.